Incorporate systems that ensure day-to-day work even if third wave leads to lockdown: Maharashtra CM to industry leaders

Uddhav Thackeray in a virtual meeting with the industry leaders (Image: Twitter/@CMO)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his interaction with top industrialists and entrepreneurs on June 6, said there is a need to incorporate systems that prevent the suspension of day-to-day work even if a lockdown is re-imposed in the coming days.

Thackeray expressed the possibility of re-imposing the restrictions if the state is hit by a third COVID-19 wave. In such a scenario, the industrial activities must not hit a roadblock, he suggested.

"Incorporate systems in a way that if there is an onset of the third wave and a lockdown must be imposed, the day-to-day working of industries and their production must not be affected," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) quoted Thackeray as saying.

The chief minister's statement comes a day after the state unveiled a five-level unlock plan after controlling the second pandemic wave to a significant extent.

The lockdown that was imposed since mid-April would be completely relaxed from June 7 in districts categorised under level 1 - those with less than 5 percent positivity rate - and partially lifted in districts that have been placed in higher levels.

The toughest set of restrictions that bar all forms of non-essential businesses and activity would remain only in the few districts categorised under level-5.

Also Read | Maharashtra's 5-level unlock plan: Restaurants, malls to reopen - here's all you need to know

In Mumbai, which is at the border of level 2 and 3, an array of economic activities are slated for resumption from June 7. Thackeray has urged the industry leaders to follow the safety protocols in letter and spirit.

"I want to set an example for the country to replicate that the industries in Maharashtra can fully operate with complete COVID-appropriate behaviour and protocols. We neither want a lockdown nor a knockdown. So, keep following all health protocols," he said.

The virtual meeting with Thackeray was attended by Kotak Mahindra Bank Managing Director Uday Kotak, Hiranandani Group MD Niranjan Hiranandani and others including Naushad Forbes, Amit Kalyan, Ashok Hinduja, A N Subramanyam, Ajay Piramal and Harsh Goenka.

"The new set of criteria and levels under 'Break The Chain' is a calculated risk. Hence, I request you to please take care. We have not done away with the restrictions in a hurry," Thackeray said during the meeting.

The chief minister further requested the business owners to keep detailed health records of workers and migrant labourers from other states working in Maharashtra.

"Please ensure that they do not spread COVID while returning to their States or while coming back here. Maintain the records of their family members as well. After these workers return from other States, keep them in isolation, conduct regular health checkups," the CMO quoted him as saying.

"Monsoons are here. Communicable diseases may increase. Please ensure that your employees and workers abide by health protocols. Take care to ensure that there is no stagnant water at construction sites as this may lead to diseases like dengue and malaria," Thackeray said, stressing that the use of masks must remain imbibed.